What's happening
This bill requires physicians in New York to complete continuing education on screening children for adverse childhood experiences before re-registration.
Why it matters
Addresses the long-term health impact of childhood trauma. by requiring physicians to be educated on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are linked to chronic health issues, mental illness, and risky behaviors later in life.
Aims to improve early identification and intervention. for children at risk, potentially leading to better health outcomes and reducing the societal costs of untreated childhood trauma.
Creates standardized education requirements. for physicians, ensuring they receive consistent training on ACEs regardless of their specialty, while allowing exemptions for those whose practice may not involve child patients.
Signals a shift in medical practice toward trauma-informed care,. encouraging physicians to consider patients’ backgrounds and life experiences as part of routine health screenings.
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Who cares
Physicians seeking re-registration
They would have to attest to completing at least four hours of continuing medical education on screening children for adverse childhood experiences, unless exempted based on the nature of their practice.
State Education Department and Department of Health
The education commissioner would prescribe the attestation form and, in consultation with the health commissioner, establish a practice-based exemption process.
Continuing medical education organizations
They would provide the training physicians need to meet the new re-registration requirement.
Children with adverse childhood experiences
The bill would require physician training on screening children for experiences such as abuse, domestic violence and parental mental illness.
Headline styles
Require Trauma Training for Doctors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Doctors' Childhood Trauma Training
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6785
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
October 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BIAGGI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requirements for the re-registration for physicians
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 6524 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
(12) (a) As used in this section:
(i) "Adverse childhood experiences" means stressful or traumatic experiences experienced during childhood, which are strongly related to the development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems throughout a person's lifetime, including, but not limited to physical or sexual abuse; domestic violence; parental mental illness; substance abuse; and incarceration.
(ii) "Continuing medical education organization" means an accreditation council for continuing medical education, a physician specialty organization, or any other appropriate entity, as determined by the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health.
(iii) "Physician specialty organization" means the American Board of Medical Specialties; the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Professional Education; the American Board of Physician Specialties; the Royal College of Physicians of Canada; and any other entity maintaining standards for and certifying physician specialty certification that is approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education, or any other equivalent entity, as determined by the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health.
(b) No physician may be re-registered unless he or she, as part of the re-registration application, includes an attestation, in a form prescribed by the commissioner, that he or she has previously completed at least four hours of continuing medical education from a continuing
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01060-01-9
S. 6785 2
medical education organization on the screening of children for adverse childhood experiences; provided, that the commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of health, shall provide for an exemption process based on the nature of the physician's practice.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed by the commissioner of education on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requirements for the re-registration for physicians
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that physicians undertake continuing medical education train- ing in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) so that they are better prepared to treat their patients.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill adds a new section 12 to the education law to require physicians to attest as part of the re-registration process that they have received continuing medical education training on the screen- ing of children for adverse childhood experiences; and requiring the commissioner of the education department, in conjunction with the commissioner of the department of health, to provide an exemption proc- ess based on the nature of the physician's practice.
Read the full memo (715 words)
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) harm children's developing brains and bodies so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. Nearly 20 years ago, the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACEs study showed that most people have at least one ACE and that people with four or more are like- ly to experience longterm and chronic health conditions. The CDS-Kaiser study defined ACEs as: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; physical and emotional neglect; parental mental Illness, substance abuse, or incarceration; parental separation or divorce; and domestic violence. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA), research continues to confirm a strong correlation between a high ACEs score and various health problems, including chronic diseases, substance abuse disorders, mental health disorders and behavioral prob- lems. (i)
Recent work by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris 2 is further connecting the dots between those traumatic experiences and physical ailments that are all too common among children, such as ADHD, diabetes, and asthma. Accord- ing to Dr. Burke Harris, severe, chronic, or prolonged adversity can cause long term changes in a child's stress response system, including brain structure and function, hormone levels, immune system, and how DNA is read and transcribed. The impacts are long-term. There is evidence that having an ACE score of four or more dramatically increases the risk for 7 out of 10 of the leading causes of death In the United States. Given this correlation, it is concerning that only 4% of pediatricians currently screen for ACEs. Physician screening for ACEs - as part of a routine physical exam -would be a simple change that could lead to a more comprehensive and holistic approach to treating children and could make a dramatic difference in the lives of many patients. Toward that end, increased awareness among physicians, particularly pediatricians and other primary care physicians, of the impact of ACES on patient health and of the value of screening for ACEs is a vital first step. This bill would require physicians to attest, as part of their re-regis- tration process, that they have received, at some point in their medical career, four hours of continuing medical education training on the screening of children for adverse childhood experiences. The bills allows for the training to be conducted by an accreditation council or continuing medical education, a physician specialty organization, or any other appropriate entity, as determined by the commissioner of educa- tion, in consultation with the commissioner of health. The bill requires the commissioner of education, in consultation with the commissioner of health, to provide for an exemption process based on the nature of the physician's practice.
Prior legislative history
A.11077 of 2017-2018.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
180 days after it shall have become law; authorization provided for agency to add, amend or repeal any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of the act on or before the effective date. (i) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAM HSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation, with emphasis on reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities. 2 Pediatrician, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, founder and CEO of the Center for Youth Wellness in San Franciscci and author of The Degoest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(1)
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.